Clarity
The literal, stylistic and thematic messages of my pieces are clearly and efficiently presented. Each element created is working towards its goal of visually representing the word. Looking at my elements created I don't think anyone would misinterpret the piece's message because the visuals used clearly represent the word. However, I do think anyone viewing my work would have their own thoughts/ideas of how to create a visual that represents the words. The only image that I think could possibly be fighting for attention would the word pillow with the sleeping baby. The image of a sleeping baby could represent many different things to people such as innocence, peace, love, defenseless therefore the word pillow only could be fighting with other peoples ideas of the message. I think my creations are all pretty simple and have a great impact on an audience concerning the message, theme and concept.
Audience
The target audience for this piece would be college students and teachers because they are the audience that is viewing my work. The primary audience would be college students because we all view each others blogs in order to learn about new/different ideas. I think the visual tastes of this demographic segment would be creativity because everyone has very different ideas about how to create an assignment therefore viewing everyones diverse work keeps students very intrigued and continuously learning new things. The tone should appear very young, carefree, spontaneous, and exciting in order for the concepts to be well-received by this audience. I think this audience will respond best to short and concise lingo. If there is a passage that is too long the chances are they won't fully read it. Stating the main points simply, maybe even in bullets, would probably be best. In my opinion I think this audience would prefer fun, bright colors to catch their attention. The concept of this piece does not talk down to the target audience. It does not fly over their heads because each image and word is very simple and only further emphasizes the meaning. These words are all very applicable to my audience. For example the word lightly could speak to the audience saying to relax and don't stress out; pillow- get a good night sleep; atom- speak to them about their chemistry class etc... My designs stand out from what the audience has already seen because they are all very unique. When students view each others work, everyone has different designs because it is all individual work based off of the same assignment. If this piece were a person they would be very different and creative, offering a lot for the audience to learn from.
Purpose
Kraus says that when it comes to typographical conveyance the use of visual media is to convey a meaning or mood from the obserserved to the observer. The purpose of this piece was to create a design that represents the meaning of a word. It is not intended to try to sell a product. The purpose is to inform the viewers because each design only further exemplifies the words meaning to the viewers. The purpose is not to persuade because the images are not trying to change the viewers ideas/opinions just simply give them new insight into the different ways that I decided to design my images. I have discussed the purpose of this assignment with Dr. Estes during class to make sure I was on the right track. The purpose has been adequately narrowed so that is can be given as much attention as possible.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Typographical Conveyance
"The conveyances that reach us through what we see are capable of nothing less than shaping the way we perceive, feel about, view and react to our entire sphere of reality" -Krause
The purpose of this activity was to create our own typographical conveyance using a list of given words.
The first word I had was shred. I decided to use a a font with an added texture. The texture used creates a separated appearance within the white font. This makes each letter look like it has been shredded.
The purpose of this activity was to create our own typographical conveyance using a list of given words.
The next word I had was lightly. Something light is always very delicate and sheer therefore I decided to use a script font as a light yellow color. I decreased the opacity as well added a blur around the outlining of the font.
In order to convey the word atom I Googled an image of it. I then decided to use a circle of an atom as the O in the word "atom". I created each circle with the shape tool and then colored in each shape red.
When thinking of the word brick I think of something strong, and thick. I created a rectangle shape on the top and bottom of this image to make to word brick appear like it is between an actual brick. The font I used appears very strong and bold and I think the color black further emphasizes the strength of the word.
For the word pillow I decided to find an image of a sleeping baby because they are the most delicate representations for this word that I could think of. Using a slightly italicized font and placing the word underneath the baby's head emphasizes the softness of the word.
For the last word XXL I decided to create something growing in largeness by taking the word and increasing the size in order left to right. I liked the font I used because there is an outer shadow that helps show viewers the growth in size.
Overall I am very happy with my final creations. I think that each image I created accurately represents the words. I liked this assignment a lot because it made me have to think how else can I represent a word through a visual representation.
Monday, April 11, 2011
CAP: Connotation, Attributes, Placement
Connotation
The visual styles of my work all seem to tie in with the theme I meant to convey. For example for my legibility post I believe the font and color I chose to use accurately display the theme of a wedding. The font is a script therefore it appears very delicate and mystical which clearly demonstrates a wedding as well as the color white that I chose. When taking a broader look at my entire blog as a whole I would have to say that every sub-component within the element work toward the same goal. The elements meaning each post that I create and yes every component within each post work toward answering 4 specific reflective questions. Each post that I create answers what the purpose of my work was, the design techniques demonstrated, how my work has evolved from one version to the next, and my personal thoughts about the quality of my work. When looking at my post called emotional design I don't think that the theme of love is projected in a way that could be seen as too specific or overly broad. I think that the colors I used of blue and pink clearly demonstrate a male and female. I also believe the object of two keys intertwining makes it apparent that the two objects want to be together, also demonstrating love. Although I believe this theme is projected very well, I do think it would be helpful to show this element to others in order to find out if they perceive it the same way as I do. Lastly I believe my post of Gestalt principles clearly demonstrates the theme of closure. The two shapes that I used make the full object appear as if the white space in the middle is being confined by closure.
Attributes
Overall, I am pleased with the visual weight, structure, color, and presentational style of my posts. For example, my icon post that I created conveys its message clearly and in a manner that is aesthetically appropriate for its purpose. When looking at the icon I created from different basic shapes it is very apparent that it is supposed to represent a telephone. For my post called legibility and text safe areas I think the only thing that should be fixed is possibly increasing the drop shadow on the text. You can read the font but I think increasing the drop shadow some more would make the element stand out a little more clearly. For my emotional design post I tried using different tools in order to make the keys look like metal. Adding the texture of mosaic tiles definitely helped but maybe taking another look at other textures would help add a "roughened up" look to better establish the elements aesthetic integrity. This element does have a backdrop which is black and I think this really makes the keys stand out clearly. The bright colors of the keys have a great contrast with the black background. For the color echo assignment I think the color scheme of the element fits very well with the scheme of the larger layout. I ensured this by using the paint bucket tool to select the exact color from the element of the eyeshadow in order to use this color for the background. Using the same exact colors from an element in the background creates a very unified look. I think this element could be presented to a wide variety of media because it is simple enough that it could be changed in size. The typography used is very legible. I believe that for each assignment the look and feel of the type connect with the overall message. I spent a lot of time making sure I chose fonts that accurately represented the message I wanted convey as well as using appropriate colors to further support the message.
Placement
When viewing all of my assignments posted I don't think I really concentrated on the placement of the elements all that well. A lot of times I would just type and insert the image and sometimes it would look great and then other times I would have a lot of difficulties getting the images to go exactly where I'd want them to go.
For the emotional design assignment I believe the component of the keys have the starring role. I ensured that this would be the case by changing what I originally had for this assignment. I made the images much larger to take priority in this poster. They keys should definitely call attention to itself because they are what the viewers ultimately have to look at in order to perceive the theme of love. I payed a great deal of attention to the placement/alignment of each element in this assignment. I made sure the backdrop of the keys was the starting point to wear the text on the bottom began. I also made sure the main title was clearly aligned with the text. For this assignment I did not conform to a flush left, flush right, or centered alignment. I think the element used does not need to be further cropped, sized, or rotated. I played around with different sizes and rotations and I feel that the way I have designed it allows for the element to appear the priority for the entire poster.
For my hue and saturation post I do not think that the three different images should have been grouped. I like the way I have them separated with some text in between. Having text in between allowed me to briefly explain the differences of each image from one another.
I can notice an increase in creativity by the new knowledge I have gained from all the techniques we have learned. I am really enjoying all of the assignments we have done this far!
The visual styles of my work all seem to tie in with the theme I meant to convey. For example for my legibility post I believe the font and color I chose to use accurately display the theme of a wedding. The font is a script therefore it appears very delicate and mystical which clearly demonstrates a wedding as well as the color white that I chose. When taking a broader look at my entire blog as a whole I would have to say that every sub-component within the element work toward the same goal. The elements meaning each post that I create and yes every component within each post work toward answering 4 specific reflective questions. Each post that I create answers what the purpose of my work was, the design techniques demonstrated, how my work has evolved from one version to the next, and my personal thoughts about the quality of my work. When looking at my post called emotional design I don't think that the theme of love is projected in a way that could be seen as too specific or overly broad. I think that the colors I used of blue and pink clearly demonstrate a male and female. I also believe the object of two keys intertwining makes it apparent that the two objects want to be together, also demonstrating love. Although I believe this theme is projected very well, I do think it would be helpful to show this element to others in order to find out if they perceive it the same way as I do. Lastly I believe my post of Gestalt principles clearly demonstrates the theme of closure. The two shapes that I used make the full object appear as if the white space in the middle is being confined by closure.
Attributes
Overall, I am pleased with the visual weight, structure, color, and presentational style of my posts. For example, my icon post that I created conveys its message clearly and in a manner that is aesthetically appropriate for its purpose. When looking at the icon I created from different basic shapes it is very apparent that it is supposed to represent a telephone. For my post called legibility and text safe areas I think the only thing that should be fixed is possibly increasing the drop shadow on the text. You can read the font but I think increasing the drop shadow some more would make the element stand out a little more clearly. For my emotional design post I tried using different tools in order to make the keys look like metal. Adding the texture of mosaic tiles definitely helped but maybe taking another look at other textures would help add a "roughened up" look to better establish the elements aesthetic integrity. This element does have a backdrop which is black and I think this really makes the keys stand out clearly. The bright colors of the keys have a great contrast with the black background. For the color echo assignment I think the color scheme of the element fits very well with the scheme of the larger layout. I ensured this by using the paint bucket tool to select the exact color from the element of the eyeshadow in order to use this color for the background. Using the same exact colors from an element in the background creates a very unified look. I think this element could be presented to a wide variety of media because it is simple enough that it could be changed in size. The typography used is very legible. I believe that for each assignment the look and feel of the type connect with the overall message. I spent a lot of time making sure I chose fonts that accurately represented the message I wanted convey as well as using appropriate colors to further support the message.
Placement
When viewing all of my assignments posted I don't think I really concentrated on the placement of the elements all that well. A lot of times I would just type and insert the image and sometimes it would look great and then other times I would have a lot of difficulties getting the images to go exactly where I'd want them to go.
For the emotional design assignment I believe the component of the keys have the starring role. I ensured that this would be the case by changing what I originally had for this assignment. I made the images much larger to take priority in this poster. They keys should definitely call attention to itself because they are what the viewers ultimately have to look at in order to perceive the theme of love. I payed a great deal of attention to the placement/alignment of each element in this assignment. I made sure the backdrop of the keys was the starting point to wear the text on the bottom began. I also made sure the main title was clearly aligned with the text. For this assignment I did not conform to a flush left, flush right, or centered alignment. I think the element used does not need to be further cropped, sized, or rotated. I played around with different sizes and rotations and I feel that the way I have designed it allows for the element to appear the priority for the entire poster.
For my hue and saturation post I do not think that the three different images should have been grouped. I like the way I have them separated with some text in between. Having text in between allowed me to briefly explain the differences of each image from one another.
I can notice an increase in creativity by the new knowledge I have gained from all the techniques we have learned. I am really enjoying all of the assignments we have done this far!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Combining Fonts and Images
The purpose of this assignment was to look for a font to use for a companies name that visually connects with the icon being used. I chose to create a logo for a flower company. This flower companys name was Bloom Avenue. I decided to use a font that was script because it appears very delicate just like a flower. I then decided to incorporate an actual flower pedal to have an attractive looking logo. I used photoshop in order to get the image of the flower pedal alone. I used the marque tool to select only this flower pedal. I also cut a circle in the middle of the flower pedal so that I could have the double o from the word bloom appear through the flower. I then increased the hue of the flower to highlight some purple and green. Lastly I decided to make the font the same purple from the flower to have a constant flow of colors. I think this combination of fonts and images looks great. Not only do the colors and font look great together but the image accents the name of the company.
Word Portraits
"Every front conveys a different voice when it speaks through the visual languages of print and electronic media. A font's voice could be authoritative, vigorous, poetic, urban, mechanical or earthy- depending on the design of the font and the perceptions of the viewer." -Krause
The purpose of this assignment was to choose fonts and colors that best amplify the words meaning. The first font I chose was Gill Sans Ultra Bold. I used this font to emphasize the word Anger because it is a very thick and bulky font. I decided the colors red and black would best amplify this emotion. The second font I used was Lucida Handwriting to resemble the word sexy. I also chose the colors pink and black. I felt that this combination of colors and font emphasizes sexy very well. When I think of something sexy it would be very flowy, flirty, and fun. I believe I was successful in my work because without reading the word, I feel the emotions are very apparent by the fonts chosen.
For the next portion of this assignment we had to choose fonts that contradicted the emotion/word. I first chose the font Braggadocio to contradict the word Shy. This font is very bold, and large therefore it clearly does not resemble something that would be shy. I also used bright colors because they do not resemble something shy. The second font I chose was Curlz MT to inaccurately represent the word depressing. I also used bright colors because something depressing is usually dull and dark not colorful. I thought this font is very happy, and fun therefore it does not represent something depressing very well. I believe I was successful in my work because the fonts clearly do not accurately represent the words.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Emotional Design
The purpose of this activity was to design a poster that incorporated an emotional design technique while still applying techniques learned earlier in the semester. First Michelle and I chose our target audience to be college aged girls or guys. We chose an everyday object to incorporate into our poster that we would ourselves manipulate in order to apply an emotional appeal. The object we chose was a key. We also decided a slogan would be best in order to properly convey the message that we intended.
The first picture below shows the image we received inspiration from.
We decided to apply the emotional technique of LOVE. We thought in order to portray love to an audience there must be two figures that are somehow in contact with one another. We decided to duplicate our key and color one blue and one pink in order to reach our male/female audience. We used the erase tool in order to make the hearts hollow. We added an outer glow as well as added the texture mosaic tiles to make the keys look more like metal. We applied a feature called twirl to both of our images through photoshop and then also used a puppet warp tool in order to freely pull any section of the keys where we wanted them to bend. This enabled us to create the feeling of love by showing how the two images needed to be close in contact with each other. It looks as if though the blue key is holding the pink key and we did this by using the marque tool to delete a section of the pink key so it looked like it was between the blue keys touch.
The first picture below shows the image we received inspiration from.
We decided to make our poster unique by creating our own object. I went into powerpoint and made a key by using 3 heart shapes and lines.
We decided to apply the emotional technique of LOVE. We thought in order to portray love to an audience there must be two figures that are somehow in contact with one another. We decided to duplicate our key and color one blue and one pink in order to reach our male/female audience. We used the erase tool in order to make the hearts hollow. We added an outer glow as well as added the texture mosaic tiles to make the keys look more like metal. We applied a feature called twirl to both of our images through photoshop and then also used a puppet warp tool in order to freely pull any section of the keys where we wanted them to bend. This enabled us to create the feeling of love by showing how the two images needed to be close in contact with each other. It looks as if though the blue key is holding the pink key and we did this by using the marque tool to delete a section of the pink key so it looked like it was between the blue keys touch.
Our final poster is the image above. I think that the keys demonstrate the emotion of love very well by being wrapped around each other as well as glowing. I decided to look back to past chapters in order to utilize grouping, alignment, color, and golden section to the best of my ability. I thought the colors are a great contrast because the blue and pink stand out against the black section. I also like the blur around the black section because without it, it appeared too sharp. The size of the black section utilizes the golden section because it is not half way down the entire poster. I think the composition looks great because the sideways logo provides a clear horizontal and vertical alignment. I made sure the text at the bottom began right where the logo began so that there was a straight vertical line.
Monday, March 28, 2011
A day in the Life: Visual Storytelling
For this assignment I had to create a video of images that would display what I have done in that particular day, along with a sentence describing how I felt. I chose a lap top, umbrella, face wash, special k cereal, and a StarBucks iced coffee. Using powerpoint I upload each image on a separate slide. I played around with the different effects in order to create visually appealing images. When I finished this I then saved the powerpoint as a movie. I never knew you could actually save a powerpoint as a movie so I think knowing this tool is very helpful.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Color Echo: Hue and Saturation
Exercise 1.
For this activity we found a picture online that was very colorful. I chose a picture of colorful flowers because it was bright (see below). The purpose of this assignment was to practice using the tools, hue and saturation, in photoshop.
For this activity we found a picture online that was very colorful. I chose a picture of colorful flowers because it was bright (see below). The purpose of this assignment was to practice using the tools, hue and saturation, in photoshop.
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Hue: I chose to alter the hue to 116. I liked the combination of colors with the hue increased.  Saturation: I chose to decrease the saturation to - 58. It looks as if the image is now antique or even a painting.  Value (Lightness): This emphasizes how light or dark you can make an image. I decided to increase the lightness to 45 because I liked the way the image looked with an increased brightness.  Exercise 2. " When building a layout around a particular photo, one of the best ways to create a palette that will complement the image is to borrow colors directly from the image itself"- Krause For this assignment I chose the simple object of eyeshadow. I figured this image had enough variety of color to incorporate into the background of this image. Using photoshop I first had to magnetic lasso the object. After creating a new layer with the image alone, I could use the paint bucket to select the exact color of one of the eyeshadows for the background. I did this again for the square block on the bottom.  I decided to use the different tools in photoshop to add more unique design techniques. I used the tools posterize as well as the outer glow and am very pleased by my final product.  |
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Second Life Prim
The purpose of this work was to build a 3D object using second life. I decided to create an image using the sphere object. I made the color pink and then changed the texture. The texture I used was called Waterfall- water ripple 2. The sphere is useful as hollow so I thought the water ripple was visually pleasing with a hollow object. I decided to move the object by increasing the numbers on the X,Y, Z axes. Lastly I increased the size of the object by stretching it to make it bigger. I thought the concept of creating visuals in a virtual world is very interesting and I enjoyed creating my own object.
Legibility and Text Safe Areas
"A backdrop, like a border, is a visual device used to contain and direct attention to a piece's content and message." -Krause
I searched on google for an image that I wanted to used as background for an invitation. The purpose of this activity was to practice using different fonts/colors/sizes of text in order to successfully convey a message. I began with the image of what looks like a light pink silk material. What came to my mind when viewing this background was something delicate and graceful so I decided to create a wedding invitation. I used a white script font because I thought that went well with the theme of delicacy. I couldn't really read the font so I decided to use a drop shadow on the text to ensure readability. I think the visual texture of the background goes very well with the font style I chose and also displays the message through the chosen visual.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Creating Icons
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"The ultimate goal of an icon is to convey a message- quickly, clearly and in a manner that is aesthetically appropriate for its purpose and target-audience. " -Krause
Gestalt Principles
Closure
The purpose of this exercise was to utilize the Gestalt principles. I chose to create an image that represents Closure. The two purple shapes make a square which represents closure. The space that is created between demonstrates openness because there is a long line that looks like an escape. Also the two purple shapes create an allusion of a square in the middle.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Critical Reflection- CAP
1. Connection
The past activities that we have completed include Horizon Variations, Golden Section, Grouping & Theme, Multi-Image Ad Composition, and Color & Emphasis. The blogs posted on my page are all connected well because you can clearly identify the separation of activities due to the appropriate headings of each blog. Also the images I have under each heading are connected to each other because the images clearly illustrate the representation of the heading.
Each of these activities have resulted in me concentrating on the connections made between each element that I would create in comparison to other elements. The activity, grouping and theme, is where I had most practice making connections between the elements. Looking back and reflecting on my work, I would have to say that I utilized connections of my elements pretty well in order to emphasize the theme that I was trying to create. I think I had a pretty clear idea of where to put each element in order to portray the correct message I was intending, especially for Unity and Celebration. However, I do think that I could have made adjustments to Isolation and Intimidation in order to create a stronger message. For these particular themes I think it is necessary to interrupt the flow of the piece dramatically therefore putting the lonely object for each theme further away from the grouping might have made for a stronger message. The theme Anarchy is very scattered but in this case I don't think any changes need to be made because the elements having a scattered connection emphasizes the theme best.
2. Alignment
For my alignment assignment I think I did a great job. I chose the centered alignment. I put my picture, phrase, and words all aligned the same way to provide consistency. In order to make sure each element was the same I checked the alignment so that I did not overlook anything. I made sure the left side mirrored the right side so that each element was an equal distance from the edge. For my particular work I don't think there are any exceptions to be made because it would just look very unorganized. It is important to keep the elements some what consistent otherwise viewers might get confused where to direct their attention. When I first created this image, I think there might have been areas of trapped space, but I made sure I enlarged the photo that way it remained the focus and eliminated unnecessary space.
3. Priority
After reviewing my visuals I am very happy with all of my blog posts. I think the visuals I created as well as modified clearly demonstrate each concept that I intended. There are clear and appropriate hierarchies between each element in each visual. Beginning with the horizon variations, I think my modifications clearly demonstrate that the emphasis is on the road in one picture and the sky in the other. In the alignment activity the picture of the baby hands in the adult hands is clearly what is intended to be the main focus. If it was made smaller and the words were larger the focus would then be on the verbal message instead of the image. Lastly in the color and emphasis post, it is clear that the yellow bird is the hierarchy because it now stands out against the rest of the picture emphasizing its difference and power. I don't think the eye is pulled in opposite directions because each visual has one distinct message. In the past and present activity the father and children clearly are the attention because they are the only elements that are fully colored while the background is black and white. My images are strongest in displaying priority because I think it is evident that the images are representing a clear and distinct message. My blog itself flows very well because each exercise is vertically constructed and each post is a separate frame which I believe looks very organized. By having good organization this prevents the viewers from getting confused where to look.
The past activities that we have completed include Horizon Variations, Golden Section, Grouping & Theme, Multi-Image Ad Composition, and Color & Emphasis. The blogs posted on my page are all connected well because you can clearly identify the separation of activities due to the appropriate headings of each blog. Also the images I have under each heading are connected to each other because the images clearly illustrate the representation of the heading.
Each of these activities have resulted in me concentrating on the connections made between each element that I would create in comparison to other elements. The activity, grouping and theme, is where I had most practice making connections between the elements. Looking back and reflecting on my work, I would have to say that I utilized connections of my elements pretty well in order to emphasize the theme that I was trying to create. I think I had a pretty clear idea of where to put each element in order to portray the correct message I was intending, especially for Unity and Celebration. However, I do think that I could have made adjustments to Isolation and Intimidation in order to create a stronger message. For these particular themes I think it is necessary to interrupt the flow of the piece dramatically therefore putting the lonely object for each theme further away from the grouping might have made for a stronger message. The theme Anarchy is very scattered but in this case I don't think any changes need to be made because the elements having a scattered connection emphasizes the theme best.
2. Alignment
For my alignment assignment I think I did a great job. I chose the centered alignment. I put my picture, phrase, and words all aligned the same way to provide consistency. In order to make sure each element was the same I checked the alignment so that I did not overlook anything. I made sure the left side mirrored the right side so that each element was an equal distance from the edge. For my particular work I don't think there are any exceptions to be made because it would just look very unorganized. It is important to keep the elements some what consistent otherwise viewers might get confused where to direct their attention. When I first created this image, I think there might have been areas of trapped space, but I made sure I enlarged the photo that way it remained the focus and eliminated unnecessary space.
3. Priority
After reviewing my visuals I am very happy with all of my blog posts. I think the visuals I created as well as modified clearly demonstrate each concept that I intended. There are clear and appropriate hierarchies between each element in each visual. Beginning with the horizon variations, I think my modifications clearly demonstrate that the emphasis is on the road in one picture and the sky in the other. In the alignment activity the picture of the baby hands in the adult hands is clearly what is intended to be the main focus. If it was made smaller and the words were larger the focus would then be on the verbal message instead of the image. Lastly in the color and emphasis post, it is clear that the yellow bird is the hierarchy because it now stands out against the rest of the picture emphasizing its difference and power. I don't think the eye is pulled in opposite directions because each visual has one distinct message. In the past and present activity the father and children clearly are the attention because they are the only elements that are fully colored while the background is black and white. My images are strongest in displaying priority because I think it is evident that the images are representing a clear and distinct message. My blog itself flows very well because each exercise is vertically constructed and each post is a separate frame which I believe looks very organized. By having good organization this prevents the viewers from getting confused where to look.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Past & Present
In this activity we had to find a picture of a street scene, make it black and white, then choose one item within the image and make it stand out against the rest of the busy picture. The purpose of the activity is to utlize color and emphasis by making a specific element stand out. I chose a picture of a street scene in Barcelona. First, I was trying to complete this activity by making the entire image black and white, then select the image I wanted to alter and change its color. This became too difficult and I soon found a much easier way to accomplish this task. I decided to start with the original photo of the street scene, which was full of color. I then selected the image that I wanted to remain as it was, full of color. I selected it with the magnetic lasso tool and then clicked on select inverse. By doing this I could then choose black and white, which was able to make everything black and white except for what I had my magnetic lasso tool around. My final product looked great in my opinion, because you are able to see what looks like an old picture of a busy street, with a modern and colorful addition of a father and his children.
Color & Emphasis
"Color is an extremely effective tool when it comes to making one element stand out above others" -Krause
For this activity the purpose was to find an image, duplicate it, then make one of the images a different color from the rest. I chose a bird, used the magnetic lasso tool to separate the image from its background, and then copied the bird three times. I decided to make the image in the middle of the other two a different color so that it would stand out. I decided to utlize value (the relative light-to-dark measure) in order to further emphasize the one element above the others. I made the bird in the middle a bright yellow while the other two birds were their original bright blue. After I accomplished this task, I then decided to reduce the opacity of the yellow bird that way it was still noticeable that the image was a bird. The first time I made the image yellow you could only tell it was a bird from the outline, but once I reduced the opacity it became much more clear what the image is because you can now see the details within the image. I think the yellow color was a great color to use because it really displays contrast against the bright blue birds.
For this activity the purpose was to find an image, duplicate it, then make one of the images a different color from the rest. I chose a bird, used the magnetic lasso tool to separate the image from its background, and then copied the bird three times. I decided to make the image in the middle of the other two a different color so that it would stand out. I decided to utlize value (the relative light-to-dark measure) in order to further emphasize the one element above the others. I made the bird in the middle a bright yellow while the other two birds were their original bright blue. After I accomplished this task, I then decided to reduce the opacity of the yellow bird that way it was still noticeable that the image was a bird. The first time I made the image yellow you could only tell it was a bird from the outline, but once I reduced the opacity it became much more clear what the image is because you can now see the details within the image. I think the yellow color was a great color to use because it really displays contrast against the bright blue birds.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Alignment
Alignment
"Alignment between elements can be used to create a sense of agreement, soundness and unity within a piece, regardless of the tone of its overall message." -Krause
"Centered alignment. Image, heading and logo each centered horizontally- a common and conventional approach." - Krause
When choosing to use the centered alignment I made sure I did not do the same mistake that was shown in the Krause text. I made sure if I was going to use center alignment that the text underneath the picture was not aligned flush left. At first the text was too close to the picture so I had to make sure there was a noticeable amount of space separating them. I made the title at the bottom a decent size yet not too big because I wanted the focus to remain on the picture. Lastly I used a blur around the picture so that the change from background to the picture wasn't too drastic.
"Alignment between elements can be used to create a sense of agreement, soundness and unity within a piece, regardless of the tone of its overall message." -Krause
"Centered alignment. Image, heading and logo each centered horizontally- a common and conventional approach." - Krause
When choosing to use the centered alignment I made sure I did not do the same mistake that was shown in the Krause text. I made sure if I was going to use center alignment that the text underneath the picture was not aligned flush left. At first the text was too close to the picture so I had to make sure there was a noticeable amount of space separating them. I made the title at the bottom a decent size yet not too big because I wanted the focus to remain on the picture. Lastly I used a blur around the picture so that the change from background to the picture wasn't too drastic.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Composition-Grouping and Theme
Activity 4
In order to have aesthetic clarity in a visual, it is important to pay attention to the way in which one groups each element- Krause. By grouping certain elements together one can relieve any confusion the viewer may have and also can portray a specific message.
The purpose of my work was to practice using different shapes, sizes, and colors in order to demonstrate very different messages by the way I grouped each element. The design techniques that we demonstrated included unity, celebration, isolation, escape, intimidation, logic, and anarchy.
The first design I demonstrated was unity. I decided to take my chosen shape which was hearts and put them in a circle. When thinking of unity what comes to mind is togetherness, which is why I thought a circle would display this best.
The second design that I demonstrated was celebration. Again using hearts as my shape, I made them each a different color then put them in order according to the rainbow colors. When I think of a celebration I think of happy, cheerful, bright colors. Then I decided to group these hearts in the form of an actual rainbow. Rainbows are unique and when people see them in the sky they always acknowledge them. This is what a celebration is as well. A celebration occurs when something unique and extraordinary happens.
In order to have aesthetic clarity in a visual, it is important to pay attention to the way in which one groups each element- Krause. By grouping certain elements together one can relieve any confusion the viewer may have and also can portray a specific message.
The purpose of my work was to practice using different shapes, sizes, and colors in order to demonstrate very different messages by the way I grouped each element. The design techniques that we demonstrated included unity, celebration, isolation, escape, intimidation, logic, and anarchy.
The first design I demonstrated was unity. I decided to take my chosen shape which was hearts and put them in a circle. When thinking of unity what comes to mind is togetherness, which is why I thought a circle would display this best.
The second design that I demonstrated was celebration. Again using hearts as my shape, I made them each a different color then put them in order according to the rainbow colors. When I think of a celebration I think of happy, cheerful, bright colors. Then I decided to group these hearts in the form of an actual rainbow. Rainbows are unique and when people see them in the sky they always acknowledge them. This is what a celebration is as well. A celebration occurs when something unique and extraordinary happens.
The third design demonstrated was isolation. Isolation refers to something that is excluded from the rest of a group. When something is left alone feeling rejected they are also experiencing isolation. I decided to make an equal group of hearts that all aligned together. In order to emphasis isolation I displayed a different color heart far away from the rest of the group that were all the same.
The fourth design demonstrated was escape. I decided to barricade an area of the background with one opening. This opening represents an escape. I also chose to use more arrows directing the lonely heart to this opening in order for it to escape from all the other arrows.
The fifth design demonstrated was intimidation. I feel as though it is universal to think something is intimidating that there are multiple of. Also something that is dark, and big resemble something to be intimated of. This is why I used my object of a face to be small and light in one direction, and in the other direction I have numerous big, dark faces.
The sixth design demonstrated was anarchy. When looking up the definition of anarchy I found that it is chaos, confusion and disorder. I took a simple shape such as a heart and decided to sporadically place each element. This utilizes what we previously learned, The Principle of Unequal Spacing. Each element is not related in spacing to each other or the edges of the background.
The seventh design demonstrated was logic. Logic is something that makes sense and has a sense of order. Using my heart shapes I decided to display order by decreasing each size of heart. It is logical that after we notice the trend of hearts getting smaller, that this will only continue.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Composition- Horizon Variations and Golden Section
Exercise 1- Point Placement
The first exercise we completed was to demonstrate the Principle of Unequal Spacing. We had a sheet of paper and drew dots that were not equal to each other or the edge of paper. We then completed this same activity inside rectangles. This activity brought awareness to placement and proximity of each small dot. I intend to pay close attention to where I put each element in further activities.
Exercise 2- Horizon Variations
The way in which we crop a photo determines what the viewer focus' on. We first have to ask ourselves," What is the purpose of this image?" - Krause
This original picture does not direct attention to any specific thing because it is very cluttered.
I decided to put the focus on the road therefore cropping out most of the sky, keeping the horizon line near the top. I also eliminated some of the right side so that there was less grass, again keeping the emphasis on the road.
The second picture also has an unclear focus. The horizon line is very close to center therefore the viewer again has no clear direction.
I decided to crop the majority of the road so that the horizon line is near the bottom. I wanted to emphasize the sky. I also cropped some of the buildings on the left because there was no sight of the sky at all and because there was too much clutter.
Exercise 3- Golden Section
The golden section is an aesthetically pleasing division of space that is often used by artists as the basis for measurements within their compositions. - Krause
We created a Golden Section Ruler in Powerpoint to use in our next compositions. Now we are able to scale it to fit the lines or spaces I wish to divide. I plan to use this technique in future projects in order to have an eye-pleasing division of space.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Google Earth & Geospatial Projects on the Shenandoah Valley Event
Mapping Historical Resources, Harrisonburg, VA, Kevin Borg, History Department
I critiqued Kevin Borg's visuals as representational. Representational visuals are visuals that convey information through the likeness to the object. The visuals came from google earth imagining. The purpose of the visuals was to show detailed maps of Harrisonburg such as new construction and materials being used, in order to teach students about the history of this city. The intended audience for the visuals are the students so that they can see and learn from the maps. The assumed experiences or viewpoints represented in the visuals is history based to show the changes in Harrisonburg over time and also geography based to show approximate locations. The visuals were a very accurate representation of Harrisonburg in 1912 compared to today because they used very detailed maps. The visuals changed my understanding because I learned that google earth doesn't just show us what exists, but we can compare historical maps to what exists today. I also have a better understanding of what Borg and his students have accomplished. The software programs that Borg used to create his visuals included photoshop, png files, rubber sheeting, microfilm, and Google Earth Pro. The visuals were displayed through a screen projector using a computer. The visuals seemed very clear to me although I believe it is possible for the quality of the images to be affected because of a transfer of display systems. I believe that the students voices were heard through the creation of these maps because what we were visually seeing was a product of their work.
Interactive Geological Maps of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley Region- Steve Whitmeyer, Geology & Environmental Science
I critiqued Steve Whitmeyer's visuals as representational. The maps that he showed reinforced what was being discussed and they were a representation of what really exists. For this presentation, Whitmeyer used Google Earth to create the visuals. The purpose of the visuals was to show a map template of Virginia which showed a cross section view including a vertical slice, 3rd dimension subsurface. This can be helpful for someone starting construction of a house where they need to make sure the ground and foundation is secure. Also he mentioned this is helpful to locate where possible caverns maybe be under ground. The intended audience were geologists and in the future the entire public. The assumed experiences are geology. The visuals were an accurate representation of the geological layers of Virginia. Concepts that are complex are sometimes hard to grasp but with the visuals, I was able to understand what the speaker was discussing. The software used for this presentation was Google Earth Pro. The equipment used for these visuals to be displayed was a projector linked with a computer. The quality of the images may be affected by the display screen due to the mega pixel capacity. I learned what the term cross sections means and also learned that a geological map shows color coded areas that represent great depth of an area.
I critiqued Kevin Borg's visuals as representational. Representational visuals are visuals that convey information through the likeness to the object. The visuals came from google earth imagining. The purpose of the visuals was to show detailed maps of Harrisonburg such as new construction and materials being used, in order to teach students about the history of this city. The intended audience for the visuals are the students so that they can see and learn from the maps. The assumed experiences or viewpoints represented in the visuals is history based to show the changes in Harrisonburg over time and also geography based to show approximate locations. The visuals were a very accurate representation of Harrisonburg in 1912 compared to today because they used very detailed maps. The visuals changed my understanding because I learned that google earth doesn't just show us what exists, but we can compare historical maps to what exists today. I also have a better understanding of what Borg and his students have accomplished. The software programs that Borg used to create his visuals included photoshop, png files, rubber sheeting, microfilm, and Google Earth Pro. The visuals were displayed through a screen projector using a computer. The visuals seemed very clear to me although I believe it is possible for the quality of the images to be affected because of a transfer of display systems. I believe that the students voices were heard through the creation of these maps because what we were visually seeing was a product of their work.
Interactive Geological Maps of Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley Region- Steve Whitmeyer, Geology & Environmental Science
I critiqued Steve Whitmeyer's visuals as representational. The maps that he showed reinforced what was being discussed and they were a representation of what really exists. For this presentation, Whitmeyer used Google Earth to create the visuals. The purpose of the visuals was to show a map template of Virginia which showed a cross section view including a vertical slice, 3rd dimension subsurface. This can be helpful for someone starting construction of a house where they need to make sure the ground and foundation is secure. Also he mentioned this is helpful to locate where possible caverns maybe be under ground. The intended audience were geologists and in the future the entire public. The assumed experiences are geology. The visuals were an accurate representation of the geological layers of Virginia. Concepts that are complex are sometimes hard to grasp but with the visuals, I was able to understand what the speaker was discussing. The software used for this presentation was Google Earth Pro. The equipment used for these visuals to be displayed was a projector linked with a computer. The quality of the images may be affected by the display screen due to the mega pixel capacity. I learned what the term cross sections means and also learned that a geological map shows color coded areas that represent great depth of an area.
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